Village Lab team members
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Members of the Village Lab
Members of the Village Lab
Estimated Read Time:
1 minute
Health and wellness

Investigating racism and colonialism in Manitoba systems

Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) awards $125,000 in funding for a community-led project aiming to tackle harmful effects of racism and colonialism in Manitoba’s systems that are leading to increased HIV risks.

Dr. Rusty Souleymanov, associate professor, and director of Village Lab, is leading a team of stakeholders, scholars, and community leaders from across Canada in research that will drive structural change by fostering policy reforms, anti-racist health systems, and community-led solutions.

The project titled “Community-Led Structural Interventions to Improve HIV/STBBI Outcomes and Dismantle Structural Racism and Colonialism Affecting Indigenous, Black, and Racialized Communities in Manitoba” was ranked top 3rd in applications submitted to CIHR’s Moving Upstream: Structural Determinants of Health – Catalyst Grants.

The project investigates how structural racism and colonialism within key Manitoba institutions contribute to higher vulnerability to HIV and other sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBIs) among Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, Inuit), Black (African and Caribbean), and other racialized communities.

Dr. Rusty Souleymanov giving a presentation to a class
Dr. Rusty Souleymanov

By establishing a regional leadership network of community members, Elders, researchers, policymakers, service providers, and government representatives, the project prioritizes the leadership of Indigenous and Black communities in shaping transformative, community-led structural interventions. 

"It is more than just identifying barriers—it’s about dismantling them. By centering Indigenous and Black leadership in shaping structural interventions, we are creating meaningful, community-led solutions to address the systemic racism and colonialism that have long impacted HIV/STBBI outcomes," says Dr. Souleymanov.
 

Through partnerships, knowledge-sharing, and advocacy, we aim to transform policies, build anti-racist health systems, and ensure that those most affected by these inequities have the power to lead change.

Dr. Rusty Souleymanov

Emerging Indigenous and Black trainees are actively involved in the project, gaining experience in community-driven research and advocacy. The project addresses the critical gap in capacity-building opportunities for Indigenous and Black scholars by equipping them with the necessary tools to lead community-driven research and advocacy efforts. 

By leveraging the Village Lab’s partnerships, the project aims to transform HIV/STBBI prevention and care across Manitoba. The project brings together peers with lived experience, Indigenous and Black scholars, provincial health strategists, the Manitoba Harm Reduction Network, the Manitoba HIV Program, and local and national HIV/AIDS service agencies. 

The Faculty of Social Work proudly supports this impactful research, which reflects its dedication to social justice, equity, and community-centered scholarship.
 

We are committed to mentoring the next generation of researchers.

Dr. Rusty Souleymanov

This interdisciplinary initiative is led by Dr. Rusty Souleymanov and the Village Lab and co-led by Dr. Bolaji Akinyele-Akanbi, Faculty of Social Work, and Dr. Alexandra King, Cameco Chair in Indigenous Health and Wellness, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan. It is conducted in collaboration with Indigenous-led organizations, including Ka Ni Kanichihk, Inc., Waniska!, CAAN, Two-Spirit Consultants, Inc., and the FEAST Centre.